In the era of the Cold War, the military planners on both sides of the Iron Curtain were well aware of the threat to their security from both bombers that could carry nuclear weapons and spyplanes. Thus it was deemed essential to have fast fighter aircraft which could intercept and destroy such incoming threats. The MiG-23 was developed to succeed the MiG-21 as the standard Soviet interceptor. It was a major advance on the earlier aircraft. Its swing-wing configuration was a generation on from its predecessor. Deliveries began in 1972 and more than 3,000 aircraft were built before production ended in 1986. As was the case with many Soviet types, the MiG-23 was widely exported to satellite or friendly countries. The MiG-23 saw service with air forces in the Middle East, the Far East, Cuba, and Eastern Europe, and a licensed version was built in India. This book also covers the history and operation of the MiG-27, a development of the MiG-23. This was a tactical strike aircraft with a completely redesigned forward fuselage that was produced in significant quantities from the late 1970s onwards. Both of these important types are thoroughly covered in this book, with a detailed narrative and many photographs. This volume completes the Aerofax series coverage of the MiG design bureau s major modern types.
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Book Description
This Aerofax title is a detailed history of the development and operation of the Soviet interceptor, the MiG-23/27, code named Flogger in the west.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Aerofax and Yefim Gordon deliver a fitting tribute to the MiG 23/27 Flogger,
This review is from: MiG-23/27 Flogger: Soviet Swing-Wing Fighter / Strike Aircraft (Aerofax) (Paperback)
One of the most prolific combat aircraft of the last 30 years gets a fitting tribute in this new release by renowned Soviet/Russian aviation expert Yefim Gordon and co-author Keith Dexter. Published by noted British aviation publisher Ian Allen Publishing, and carried under the Aerofax imprint, this book is a must for your bookshelf.
During the dark days of the cold war, Soviet war planners realized that the skies would be the key battleground for Germany. The MiG 23/27 FLOGGER series of aircraft provided the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies with a family of relatively inexpensive, fast, and capable aircraft that could serve in both the air defense/interceptor and the close air support/ground attack role, providing the iron punch believed necessary to push Soviet ground forces through NATO defenses. Designed in response to a Soviet Air Force requirement for a fighter/interceptor that could operate from a shortened runway, the FLOGGER began life as a FISHBED airframe with modified wings and lift fans behind the cockpit. Though not a STOVL aircraft, the lift fans were intended to shorten take-off and landing distances. Meeting with limited success, MIG redesigned the MiG-23 as a single engine, side air intake, variable geometry wing aircraft, similar to the American F-111 Aardvark design. Achieving first flight in 1967, the FLOGGER underwent several years of testing and development before entering into service in 1973. Though the definitive FLOGGER models were still several years away, its speed and short field capacity made it an important part of the Soviet and Warsaw Pact air forces. Possessing a fairly rudimentary ground attack capability, it was not until the MIG OKB was tasked with the development of a dedicated ground attack aircraft that the MiG-27 FLOGGER that was born. Originally MIG intended to create a new aircraft from scratch, but realized that modifying the existing MiG-23 airframe was a more effective solution than starting with a blank sheet of paper. With its 3-position variable geometry wings and R-35 afterburning engine, the FLOGGER was capable of achieving speeds over Mach 2. An internal twin 23-mm cannon and a weapons load of over 3000kg gave the aircraft a powerful punch, but its 620 nautical mile combat radius limited its employment and deployability. Though not a traditional dogfighter like the F-16, doctrinal use of FLOGGER utilized speed and numbers to strike fast and hard against NATO targets. The FLOGGER's low cost, ease of maintenance, and combat capability helped create considerable foreign interest, with over 18 different nations purchasing the type. The FLOGGER saw limited combat with Russian forces in Afghanistan, in a ground attack role, but never was called upon to fulfill its duties as a fighter, making it difficult to assess its place in aviation history. Though almost completely phased out of Russian and CIS inventories, the FLOGGER still flies today with air forces in Africa, the Middle East, and India. This volume is very similar to other Aerofax releases by Gordon in its structure and length. Delving into intricate detail, Gordon traces the lineage of the MiG-23 from its predecessors through to its successors. Every model of the 23 and 27 are discussed, with their differences highlighted and illustrated efficiently by judicious use of photographs. The 280 color and black and white photographs are drawn from Gordon's personal photography collection as well as the RSK-MIG photo archives. Gordon offers discussions of the FLOGGER in Soviet and Russian/CIS service, as well as detailing its significant export history. In 176 pages, Gordon delivers more detail than one can hope to process in a single sitting. The book reads smoothly and questions raised in the text are quickly answered. The photographs, three view diagrams, and color drawings of various paint schemes in this volume will be a huge benefit to modelers, and the extraordinary attention to detail will benefit both enthusiasts and professionals. When it comes to aviation, you simply can't go wrong with the Aerofax series. Yefim Gordon is considered the best for a reason, and this new volume demonstrates once again that he is the worldwide authority on the topic. This is a welcome addition to the collection and is highly recommended. A.G. Corwin St.Louis, MO
5.0 out of 5 stars
MiG-23/27 Flogger book,
This review is from: MiG-23/27 Flogger: Soviet Swing-Wing Fighter / Strike Aircraft (Aerofax) (Paperback)
An excellent history of this Soviet-era fighter/fighter bomber. Mr. Gordon continues
to produce extremely detailed books on Soviet/Russian aircraft.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Overall rating : Good,
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: MiG-23/27 Flogger: Soviet Swing-Wing Fighter / Strike Aircraft (Aerofax) (Paperback)
I am a big fan of MiG series of aircrats. I have closely observed the MiG 27 of the Indian AirForce at Nasik and at an Air show in Mumbai. I wish i had more information on the Mig-23/27 with photographs and 5 view colour drawings / markings.
After searching the Net i decided to buy the Book by Yefim Gordon on Mig-23/27. The author has described the aircrafts in detail with rare black and white photos of the MiG-23. The author has also covered the deployment part well. At the end 5 view line drawings ,colour drawings of Mig-23 BN, Mig-23 UM ,Mig-23 ML and Mig-27 M have been included which is useful for an aeromodeller. However 3 views have been restricted to aircraft of Russian Air Force markings. A few more coloured 3 views would have made an aeromodeller happy. Cutaway drawings have not been included. I wish cutaway drawings with details should have been included in the book. Overall the reading is interesting. People crazy about MiGs should buy this book.
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